I can't STAND Howard Borden - anyone else?

[Lisalu]

The character of Howard ruins the show for me, but thankfully I can FF through most of the scenes he's in.

He is just flat out stupid, dull, annoying and not the LEAST bit funny. I dread the inevitable scene in each episode where Howard knocks on the door and says, "Hi Bob, Hi Em'ly, what's for dinner?" or "Can I borrow some scotch tape?" (He doesn't even Emily's name right which is aggravating.)

Always the same tired schtick, not funny the first time, not funny the 11,000th time either.

Am I the only one who thinks this is the lamest character on the show?

[icecream]

I like Howard. The character on this show I couldn't stand was the dentist.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Lisalu

The character of Howard ruins the show for me, but thankfully I can FF through most of the scenes he's in.

He is just flat out stupid, dull, annoying and not the LEAST bit funny. I dread the inevitable scene in each episode where Howard knocks on the door and says, "Hi Bob, Hi Em'ly, what's for dinner?" or "Can I borrow some scotch tape?" (He doesn't even Emily's name right which is aggravating.)

Always the same tired schtick, not funny the first time, not funny the 11,000th time either.

Am I the only one who thinks this is the lamest character on the show?

Too old to be that stupid and annoying. Always coming over to bother a married couple. His character served no purpose

[SarahBellum]

Yes, I agree. He seemed to get more annoying each season. Maybe he would have been a bit more tolerable if he only appeared a few times each season instead of in nearly every episode.

[vitoscotti]

I'm a huge fan of the Howard Borden character. His dimwitted act never gets old for me. I really enjoy the zaniness and unpredictability.

But I can appreciate someone not liking his brand of humor. The only character I don't like on the show is the generic female friend/next door neighbor in about the first half of the first season.

[stevea]

I'm just not sure how the Hartleys could put up with him barging in all the time.

Also I can't imagine a ditz like him being hired to navigate a commercial jet.

[vitoscotti]

I'm revisiting TBNS after about 10 years. First 2 episodes I watched were episodes with classic HB lines.

HB gets cotton candy stuck on his shirt. Cleans it off comes back with a big water spot on the shirt. Says, I don't want my son to see me stained.

Second line the gang is eating in a Japanese restaurant. Howard is thinking out loud this restaurant has a wonderful drink specialty. Bartender says Harvey Wallbanger? Howard replies to the bartender, Oh, hello Harvey.

2 of my funniest favorite classic sitcom lines of all time.

One of the next episodes I definitely will view is when Howard takes on his psychologist's personality.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

I like Howard quite a bit, and Bill Daily in general.

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

The only character I don't like on the show is the generic female friend/next door neighbor in about the first half of the first season.

The original pair were Margaret and (I think just one episode) her husband Arthur. Newhart and Bill Daily were old friends, but MTM wanted to keep Daily free to star in a spinoff from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where he had played a city councilman. The network eventually decided not to do the spinoff, so Daily was freed to do Newhart's show. So that's why there's ten or so episodes of transition from Margaret to Howard.


Arthur was played by William Redfield, who later played Warden Gordon Borden. He died in 1976, before the show completed its run.

[vitoscotti]

I thought Bill Daily laid an egg on Match Game using his imbecile Howard Borden like character on the show. He'd give totally disconnected answers to the questions trying to be funny. The contestants are trying to win money and he's being a clown hurting their chances. He on the top panel with Brett Somers and angry Radar was quite interesting.

[CosmicCharlie]

Was Bill Daily dyslexic?
Bill Daily: And I'm slow, I'm not that bright, I'm dyslexic and I need a lot of rehearsal.

the fact that Bill Daily was on I Dream of Jeannie, he gets my OK

[vitoscotti]

Interesting when Bob and Howard are playing chess and Howard cleans Bob's clock. Bob subsequently finds evidence Howard is a chess hustler. To be a navigator he must have some intelligence in isolated areas. But, you'd never know he has navigator intelligence how idiotic he is talking about it. His chess prowess was a interesting glimpse into their must be connected brain cells somewhere up there.

[Sgt. Saunders]

As annoying as Howard Borden was (and he really was, what with his incessant mooching and frequent whining), Kirk Devane on “Newhart” was even worse; Kirk who was as much of a moocher as Howard, was also a smug and extremely sarcastic individual, who enjoyed making snide and disparaging remarks about other people, something Howard never did.

When the insufferable Kirk left Vermont for Europe along with his new bride, I was very happy.

Good riddance!

[CosmicCharlie]

Kirk had great writing and played the JERK to perfection ... I found him entertaining but it wore out over time and the show writers realized it too.

The episode on Bob Newhart where Howard was under the influence of Dentist Pain killers ... reflected how we all kinda felt. Carol HAD TO HAVE HIM when he was drugged up and pleasant & sweet BUT when it was straight she couldn't stand him +-

I like both of the characters but the writers are what we see / blame them

[vitoscotti]

I thought "The Peeper" and his practical jokes could be annoying before he mellowed.

Howard never getting his name right was funny.

[CosmicCharlie]

I agree, Tom Poston was much more enjoyable in Vermont's Newhart !